Dark Voice 339 - Page 45

It's the RCA 5693, it's red metal cap small tubes, not expensive but hard to find cheap. 5693 is a robust 6SJ7 more expensive and long lasting. I would personnaly try some 6SJ7GT as they are glass top and you see it glow

Quote:

Originally Posted by sluker 

I have the original tubes that came with, I will try them tonight when I get home to see if they sound better.

What are the "preferred tubes" with the 5998's? To save me searching the thread.

Hey telecaster I just noticed that your avatar is the picture of my 339, cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecaster 

It's the RCA 5693, it's red metal cap small tubes, not expensive but hard to find cheap. 5693 is a robust 6SJ7 more expensive and long lasting. I would personnaly try some 6SJ7GT as they are glass top and you see it glow

 

Yeah I'm waiting for mine and your pic is the best!

So I have been listening with the 6Ж4 (Russian svetlana made I assume) for the last two hours. And I have to say that they sound better than the EF80, or I should say noticeably different, which is better at first. Right now i am preferring the 6Ж4, they seem to have better decay instrument separation and tighter bass, so the music sounds crisper and the stage opens up a tad. The hum is till there but at a lower volume. Also I am happy to report that after 2 hours there has still not been any static. 

But i miss the glow of the EF80 :[\

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecaster 

 

That is why I am dying to ear those hifiman! I will find a shop near Paris who has them and bring the big la figaro with me to try it out!

 

 

 

Wouldn't it be easier to take the HE-500 home for a trial :D

@sluker, I don't see why the 5998TS + EF80 shouldn't work. that's exactly what I'll be using when I fins dome TS5998. Maybe those with distorted sound just had bad tubes

Ultrainferno, I am not sure either but for now I think I will keep the Svetas (6Ж4).

I can't go to sleep, I keep listening to "one more song".  The midrange is hypnotizing, they are so clean and musical at the same time. Mellow rock with strong vocal tracks sound so good. I think I even prefer the LCD-2 for this genre with the 339 over the SX1250 (I never thought that was possible, although the soundstage is smaller).

A picture is worth a thousand words they say.

Maybe should dig deep in this thread, I thought people saying EF800/EF80 wouldn't sound good with their 5998 using NOS is like a fact. 6AS7GT will give you the glow, and 5693 give you the best with 5998!

EF800 is the best for RCA 6AS7G, GEC 6AS7G, and 6AS7GA. PS: EF800/EF80 need burning if NOS and the hum will disapear.

5693 is best for 5998, Keph told us Yuking recommended RCA 6AC7 JAN for 5998.

Btw, the HD650 is made for people with normal and little head size. I wear XXL size hats and my panama I had to buy it in a special store because my head is so damn big. Stock HD650 put too much pressure on my ears but easilsy remeded by bending/modifying the metal headband shape a little and voila problem solved, now I can wear it all day!

I see people worried about compatibility 5998 TS with /EF80/800 series.
I tested the 5998 TS with EF800TFK/EF80wf and 6*4 and they are not sound well, especially 6*4 nightmare!
I have my own theory....it could be wrong but I share with you.

From my observations playing music which is loud recorded like most of them   "dynamic compressed" at present time the sound was slightly distorted with the EF800TFK/5998TS but reduced the gain of the source make the distortion undetectable. Both my source output are much over the nominal  2V RMS.

conclusion:

The 5998 TS is a high gain tube factor (5), the EF800TFK amplifies the signal very well and finally high level source, all the three factors all together make the sound overloaded(distorted).
But like I said on beginning this is my own theory based of my observation and I could be wrong.

My favourite combo for HE500(low impedance & efficiency) is Tung-sol 5998 and RedHots 5693 I posted impression few post ago i noted that the combo is little bit dry and not that sweet compared to EF800/RCA6AS7G but during the burning long period it change and the dry & cold of sound almost disappeared.

With the HD650(high impedance & efficiency) I prefer  JAN RCA6AS7G or JAN 6080WC PhilipsECG with the EF800 over the 5998TS/RCA5693.

I know that the Tung sol 5998 are not easy to find and expensive but there is an alternative as 7236(Sylviana or Tung-Sol or Cetron)  insted.

Have you tried different 6080 tubes other that the philips 6080Wc? Can you please describe the difference with RCA 6AS7G please?

About 5998 mating, a big thanks for clarifying! Seems uber logical regarding the distorsion fixed by the low gain 5693. Also the warmer sound you get from 6AS7G/5693 and the higher knob position seems to indicate the power tube is burning more. It's warmer but should sound little sweeter too? You said it's roll off on the ends of the FS, and it correlates too.

Tubes rolling

No I haven't, the only tube 6080 what I have is JAN philips 6080WC military version (metal base) which is more rugged than the regular 6080 and the black plates RCA6as7g is the military version too.

Both are Low mu (gain) factor(2) twin triodes, they each sound a little different to my ears .The 6as7g have a juicy high’s (slightly more top end) which make the sound, detailed, more open and less heavier .The 6080 have a bit more lower end with soft nature of the bass compared to 6as7g. In mids the difference wasn’t  that striking both types sounded rather equal. Both have "tubey" sound to my system. But we have to remember It's also the source and any other components in the signal chain that will have an impact to the final sound.

6as7g/5693  Yes it is lower (mu) combination and it  has slightly roll off both ends and makes the sound warmed to my ears. Personally I like EF800/6as7g it has "tubey" sound and juicy top end, favourite with my HD650.

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecaster 

Have you tried different 6080 tubes other that the philips 6080Wc? Can you please describe the difference with RCA 6AS7G please?

 

About 5998 mating, a big thanks for clarifying! Seems uber logical regarding the distorsion fixed by the low gain 5693. Also the warmer sound you get from 6AS7G/5693 and the higher knob position seems to indicate the power tube is burning more. It's warmer but should sound little sweeter too? You said it's roll off on the ends of the FS, and it correlates too.

 

Tubes rolling

my favourite amp. its simply addictive using tungsol 5998 and RCA 5693.

Last price quote i got for a pair of TS5998 was 220$, no way I'm paying that. Any tips anyone?

Michael Marx

sndtubes@vacuumtubes.com

www.vacuumtubes.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultrainferno 

Last price quote i got for a pair of TS5998 was 220$, no way I'm paying that. Any tips anyone?

just got a pair from him, is a Jan 5998, it cost 65USD x 1, his responce is a bit slow as he is moving his office.

Review of the 339, arrived today. With stock tubes. Through HD 650 bought new last week. Squeezebox touch and FLAC files. (Will test later with Meridian 596 Cd player)

Esthetically, there are some minor blemishes to the finish, nothing important or noticeable from a meter away, but still not a pristine finish you could expect for a 1500$ piece of gear, but for 400GBP delivered, PTP wiring made in China, it's pretty good actually! Not mirror finish perfect, but the design, assembly is excellent. Very satisfied.

Sonically, I have leave it on for 5 hours now and at first right away the sound was very good. Don't know if it's better now but here is how I would describe it:

Smoothness accross the entire spectrum, it doesn't sound very tubey, more like a good quality SS with an evident relax sound that is natural and never fatiguing even at very high volume level.

Transparency is very susprising, hear every single information on the CD! High end spectrum is very clear and extended, maybe a very little spicy or sparkly, would say that rock music on it has a dynamic grind that is very pleasing, fast and entertainning while not sounding harsh or ear fatiguing. That is pleasant!

The extreme bass is very clean and undistorded, very enjoyable. My fav track to test the extreme bass is Mila Repa from Que Alegria's John McLaughlin trio album. On that wonderfull song, Trilok Gurtu exceptionnal drums playing shows a very low but clean timbale and that one put to test every piece of gear I tested before including loudspeakers. Not bass heavy at all and pretty fast to my ear. Not slow like everyone is bashing the HD 650 or tube amp, I don't understand those comments at all through this setup.

Medium range is very transparent. Full bodied from high to low, no peak I can hear. A little sweetness but very slight. It sounds more like a clean and highend SS. Smooth and relax again. Voices male and female are very well rendered true to life again. Winds on jazz or classical are very true to life sounding too, excellent dynamic, best I've heard on any system including loudspeakers. Strings in orchestra is sweet and engaging with definite soul and body, while winds in Indian music is so beautiful through this amp and headset. All kind of drums are also very transparent and deep bodied.

About the separation of tracks I was surprised how well the combination of amp and headset faired! Tracks are very well defined, best in headphones I have tried to date! Must be the dual mono topology, every nuance even during big loud complex passages never blurred the respective left and right channel resulting in very stable separation of instruments. Dual PSU have always had this advantages, complete easiness to keep both channel clean even during the most demanding sections.

All those test were made during the five first hours of powering up the 339 with stock tubes 6N5P and 6X4 with squeezebox touch RCA outs with a cheap and rusty RCA cable not goldplated. HD650 has seen less than 30 hours playing time. Stock power cable of course.

Am waiting for RCA 6AS7G jan, EF800, 6SJ7GT us...